Island



@Dritten ttttns atmt @ffifh EBEN TGURJE,' OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

Letters .Patent No. 71,427, dated November 26, 1867.

4KEY-BOARD ATTACHMENT FORVMUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS.

TO ALL'WI-IOM IT MAY CONCERN:v

Be it known that I, EDEN TOURJE, of Providence, in the county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented ainewand improved Attachment for the Key-Boards of Musical Instruments, and that the fol.o\v ing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, hereinafter referred to, forms a full Aand exact specification ofthe same, wherein I have set forth the nature and principles of my said improvements, by which my invention may be distinguished from all others of a similar class, together with such Darts as I claim, and desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent.

'.lhe object of this invention is to obtain, by a very simple and inexpensive means, an attachment for the key-boards of musical instruments which will admit of the touch" being increased or diminished n. force as the performer may require, in order to assist in strengthening the fingers. In the accompanying sheet of drawings- Figure 1 is a transverse verticalv section of the keyboard of a piano-forte, melodeon, or other similar musical instrument.

Figure 2, an inverted plan of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A represents a key of a natural or whole note, and B a key of a half note, constructed, arranged, and connected with the action in the usual way. Each key works on a guide-pin or rod, C, attached to the bottom a of the key-board, and in the bottom a, in line with each key A B, there is fitted loosely a pin, I). These pins are allowed to slide or work freely in the key-board, and they rest each upon a bar, D, the rear ends of which are fitted loosely on pins c underneath the rear part of the bottom a ofthe key-board. These bars D are allowed to work freely up and down from the pins c as hinges or centres, and a spring, E, bears against the under side of each bar D. 'These springs are attached to slides F, which are iitted on a slotted board, G, the slides being secured to the board G by screws' d, which pass through the slots e in the board G. These springs E, it will bP seen, are depressed as the keys are touched, offering a. resistance to the same, and assisting in raising then` soon as the key is relieved from the finger.

The eciency'of the springs E, as regards their resistance to the depression of the keys, may be increased or diminished by adjusting them further forward or backward, so that they will bear against the bars Da greater or less distance from their ends, which is readilyaecomplished by the adjustment of the slides F on the slotted board G.

IIaving thus described my invention, 'I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent* lThe employmentior use of springs, or their equivalents, applied to the key-board of a musical instrument, and arranged in connection with the keys thereof, to operate in the manner substantially as and for the purpose specified. I

EBEN TOURJEE.

Witnesses:

HENRY BAKER, L. FRANKLIN Snow. 

